Rock art

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough stony pasture, on cutaway bog in the valley of Coomnacronia Lake. The motifs are on the SSE-sloping surface of an earthfast rock (4m NE-SW; 2.9m NW-SE; H 1.3m). The largest (diam. 0.3m), which is near the centre, is a cup-and-three rings with two radial grooves. Other motifs include nine cupmarks, seventeen cup-and-rings and five cup-and-rings with two parallel grooves. There is another example of rock art (KE071-003002-) c. 14m to the E.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 30 May 2011

In open heath and blanket bog, on a gentle NE-facing slope (163m OD); trackway c. 4.5m to W. Excellent views to SW of Coomasaharn and to NE of Curra Hill and Behy River valley. A smooth and fractured, sandstone rock (dims. 2.20m NW-SE; 4.30m NE-SW; H 0.2m at S-end; H 1.50m at N-end), which has a rectangular shaped decorated surface (dims. 2.10m NW-SE; 3.40m NE-SW) and a SSE-facing aspect. There is a low ‘step’ down (H 2-3cm) traversing (long axis N-S) decorated surface. The motifs are clearly visible although surface is becoming weathered including freeze/thaw action; a lot of pickmarks have black lichen. There are twenty-eight cupmarks (diam. 3-5cm; D 4-5mm) across the decorated surface. There are twenty-nine cup-and-one ring motifs (diam. 10-13cm) having a cupmark (diam. 4-5cm; D 4-8mm) and ring (Wth 1.0cm; D 2-3mm), including five with incomplete rings and two conjoined cup-and-ring. The northernmost cup-and-ring is on a higher piece of rock surface and the cupmark has been formed whereby conical rings of pickmarks can be seen from the top to base of the cup; a radial groove (L 21cm) extends from this cup at SE. Another of the cup-and-ring motifs is located upon a high area (dims. 13cm N-S; 19cm E-W; H 3cm) at the W-side of the decorated surface, having a cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 10mm) and ring (Wth 1.0cm; D 2-3mm). A total of eight cup-and-one ring motifs have a radial groove extending from the ring: One of these connects to the another cup-and-ring motif and one has a radial groove extending from the cupmark and also a second groove extending from the ring; another has two radial grooves extending from the ring. There is a conjoined pair of cup-and-ring motifs located upon the northern sector of the decorated surface. There is one cup-and-three ring motif (diam. 21cm) which comprises of cupmark (diam. 5cm; D 5mm) having three penannular rings (Wth 1cm; D 2-3mm); This motif has been picked and these pickmarks are clearly visible. There are a number of other linear and curvilinear grooves upon the decorated surface, amongst the other motifs and linear grooves mentioned. There are four concentrated areas having pickmarks upon the W-side of the decorated surface. There are abundant boulders/earthfast rocks scattered across this general area.

Compiled by: Alison McQueen and Vera Rahilly

Date of upload: 3 March 2017